Astronomer, Mathematician Data Scientist Stephen Mackintosh
Strathnairn community now have the empirical data required to move their DarkSky International application forward. This baseline is already being used to influence local authority planning and safeguard rural night skies from light pollution. Recent sky quality tracking shows a stark contrast across our region. Moving southwest from Culloden Moor toward Errogie (near Inverfarigaig), repeat…
The Herald Scotland has highlighted Highland Council s consideration of a landmark Dark Skies planning policy. To support the accreditation efforts, I led the data collection and night sky field work. Partnering with Dr Andy MacGregor last winter, sky-brightness measurements were tracked across the region, identifying extensive Bortle 3 zones. Crucially, this policy demonstrates that protecting…
Please find updated details of my bespoke evening stargazing tours, based out of Inverness (and surroundings). For a fixed fee I can take parties of 1-4 people into some excellent dark skies for guided stargazing and astronomy outreach. These tours are operated from my business vehicle where I can present indoor content via planetarium software Continue reading Van Based Stargazing Tours
Join me in Lochbroom on November 21st for an evening of Stargazing and Astronomy in support of the Wester Ross Dark Skies Festival. We ll be beneath some of the darkest skies in Scotland, exploring constellations, planets, and deep-sky objects. Even if the clouds roll in, I ll present an illustrated talk indoors with Planetarium software. Friday Continue reading Wester Ross Dark Skies Festival
Join me on December 13th up at Abriachan Forest (a Dark Sky Discovery site) for an evening of stargazing and astronomy with Professor Martin Hendry. (ticket links in comments) If skies are clear Martin and I will host an outdoor stargazing session and discussion under the stars (with potential telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn). Continue reading December Stargazing at Abriachan Featuring…
I m delighted to announce the first date of our 2025/2026 Astronomy and Stargazing programme at Abriachan Forest, which kicks off on Saturday, November 22nd, with an evening of outdoor stargazing and indoor planetarium guiding. We also have guest talks planned later in the season covering deep space, the solar system and the Moon, with Professor Continue reading New Astronomy Season at Abriachan…
This October I ve been carrying out night sky survey work as part of a community project to certify Strathnairn as an International Dark Sky Park. This has involved lots of travelling about late at night taking sky quality meter (SQM) readings when conditions are just right clear skies and the Moon and Sun well Continue reading Finding the Andromeda Galaxy Naked Eye
It s been a while since I updated my Youtube channel with a review. Bringing you my impressions of the Seestar S50 after a whole winter using it both personally and for public outreach. I hope you enjoy and find it useful.
We had a fantastic starry night up at Abriachan Forest with our guest speaker Andrew Allan from Scotland s Night Sky . After some naked eye stargazing we headed inside for Andrew s excellent talk on photographing and filming the night sky. Andrew s night sky content is truly unique and mesmerising and testament to his technical skills, Continue reading Stargazing and Astrophotography at Abriachan…
Feb 22nd Stargazing at Abriachan Scotland s Night Sky Special Join us up at Abriachan Forest (a Dark Sky Discovery site) for a stargazing and night sky photography special as we welcome guest astrophotographer Andrew Allan from Perthshire. Andrew runs the widely followed community page Scotland s Night Sky and is a prolific aurora chaser Continue reading Stargazing at Abriachan Scotland s Night…